Combined envelop and letter-sheet.



WVILLIAM A. PRIDMORE,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED ENVELOP AND LETTER-SHEET- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed May 28, 1906. Serial No. 319,177.

To all 1072 0711, it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLLAM A. PRID- MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new, useful, and Improved Combined Envelop and Letter- Sheet, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to construct an envelop and letter-sheet in one piece so arranged that the two may be folded together and sealed, so as to provide all the security of an ordinary envelop, while avoiding important objections thereto, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a face view of the blank or sheet as it would appear with the letter-head and other printed matter thereon and the letter written ready for folding, the dotted lines indicating the necessary folds to be made therein. Fig. 2 is a view of the same as it would appear when removed from the type-writing machine, showing the address upon the outside of the envelop and the manner in which the envelop portion may be folded in order to print said address. Fig. 3 is a view showing the letter-sheet as it would appear when partially folded within the envelop portion. Fig. 4 shows the device with the auxiliary portion folded over the letter-sheet. Fig. 5 shows the device as it would appear before the last flap is folded, and Fig. 6 is a view of the envelop asit would appear when sealed.

Referring to the drawings, a represents generally a sheet of paper intended as the letter-sheet proper, integral with which is an envelop portion (designated generally by 6) consisting of a main portion 0, adapted to form the address side of the envelop, a supplemental portion, (generally represented by (1,) a part c of which forms an extension of the part c and a part f of which forms an extension of the letter-sheet a, the two parts being divided by the line g, upon which the part is adapted to be folded.

A sealing-flap h, having a gummed portion thereon, as shown at t, is formed as an extension upon one edge of the part 0 adjacent to the supplemental part d, and a secondary written or printed upon the part c, as indi- 1 cated in Fig. 1, the part at is then by preference folded against the face of the lettersheet a in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 and the envelop addressed, or, if preferred, the

addressing of the envelop may be deferred until after the letter-sheet is folded and secured therein. In folding the sheet a within the envelop the entire blank is spread out, as shown at Fig. 1. Then all of the folds of said sheet are completed except the last, it would present the appearance indicated in Fig. 3. The final fold upon the line is, Fig. 3, is then made, when the folded sheet is inclosed by folding the part (1 upon it, one-half of said part being in contact with the inner face of the part c. The appearance would then be that represented in Fig. 4. The final fold of the parts a, and d is then made upon the line g, Fig. 4, when the whole is inclosed by the successive foldings of the flaps j and h. As the latter is provided with adhesive material upon its inner face, it serves to secure them both in place, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. In view of the fact that the part 11 is not folded until after the last fold is made in the letter-sheet proper the part d when finally folded serves to protect the letter-sheet against examination, notwithstanding a space is left along the edge of the envelop, as shown at Z, Fig. 5, between the parts 6 and f of the folded part cl. This space, while in no sense rendering the letter insecure when finally sealed, is of advantage, inasmuch as it permits the insertion of a knife for the purpose of opening the letter. A further advanta e of the supplemental extension (Z is that it forms a distinct and prominent space for the letter-head.

The general advantage of providing positive legal proof as to the fact and date of mailing the letter by having the envelop and letter-sheet integrally connected is too apparent to require extended comment.

It is obvious that the letter-sheet may be varied in size with respect to that of the envelop, although I prefer that they should bear some such ratio to each other as that indicated in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of a letter-sheet of an integral envelop portion, arranged laterally thereto, said portion commencing at one end and extending throughout a predetermined portion of the sheet, a supplemental portion, one half of which is integral with the envelop portion while the other half forms an extension of a portion only of the end of the sheet, and two flaps, one upon each of the remaining edges of the envelop portion, whereby the letter-sheet may be secured against examination by the folds of the supplemental portion, which are caused when folded, to intervene between it and the main body of the envelop portion.

2. A combined envelop and letter-sheet, the latter having upon one of the lateral edges thereof an envelop portion provided with two adjacent flaps adapted to overlap adjacent edges of the folded sheet, and asupplemental portion extended longitudinally from a portion of the end of the letter-sheet and from one edge of said envelop portion,

said supplemental portion being arranged to fold upon itself between the final folds of the letter-sheet when folded within the envelop portion.

3. A letter-sheet with which is combined a lateral integral envelop portion commencing at an upper corner of said sheet and extending downwardly a predetermined distance therefrom, two flaps, one extending laterally and the other downwardly from said envelop portion, and a supplemental portion extending throughout the upper edge of said envelop portion and along one half the top of said letter-sheet, whereby the same may form among other features, a safety element to fold between the envelop portion and the folded sheet to protect the latter from examination while leaving one edge open for the ready insertion of a paper-cutting device.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of May, 1906.

WILLIAM A. PRIDMORE.

WVitnesses D. H. FLETCHER, O. E. JORDAN. 

